For most writers, getting published in New York is the ultimate dream and goal. But if you don’t understand how this weird world of agents, editors, and publishers works, your book will probably never see the light of day.  I was fortunate: I worked with the best in the industry for over a decade – as an editor, agent, and publisher – and this allowed me to publish 12 books. The last three earned me six-figure advances. (Oprah named my last book one of the nine “must read” books for 2012.)  Now I’d like to share that wisdom by showing you how to turn your nonfiction book concept into a book proposal that will bring you the largest advances possible. By the end of this intensive weekend, you’ll have an award-winning template and all the tools you’ll need to write a fabulous proposal.  For more information, go to http://newyorkbookdeal.com.  I’d also like to give you a gift: a 30-page booklet I created filled with writing tips and the biggest mistakes most writers make when they try to sell their book to New York. To download your own personal copy, go to http://newyorkbookdeal.com/freegift/ (and check your spam folder just in case it ends up there). There’s a great book inside of everyone, and I want you to share your vision with the world. So why not get it published the right way, with a New Yorkpublishing house that can pay you a great advance for the privilege of publishing it and marketing it to the world!

Location: Westlake Village Inn  (40 minutes north of the Los Angeles and Burbank airports).  Class limited to 60 people, with a $500 discount for the first 25 registrants: http://newyorkbookdeal.com. Gourmet lunches both days, plus an $800 voucher for personal consultation and coaching to help you develop your proposal and book.

with Chris Manning, PhD
Professor of Finance and Real Estate at Loyola Marymount University
and Mark Robert Waldman
Adjunct Faculty, Executive MBA Program, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles 
Associate Fellow, Center for Spirituality and the Mind, University of Pennsylvania

Effective communication is essential in virtually all aspects of life; but the latest neuroscientific evidence shows that the expression of any form of negativity is damaging to both the speaker’s and listener’s brains. Whether at home or in the workplace, negative speech creates interpersonal stress, neural dissonance, and work-related burnout.  Under the direction of Mark Waldman, Andrew Newberg, and Chris Manning, a new communication strategy has been developed that is now part of a multi-university education and training program.  Compassionate Communication integrates mindfulness, relaxation, and various “inner values” meditations. By staying deeply relaxed and in the present moment, you can use your tone of voice and facial expressions to generate neurological trust and cooperation in the listener’s brain.

The 12 components of this strategy undermine neural patterns of defensive communication. Compassionate Communication interrupts the inner speech that governs everyday consciousness, and it promotes a spontaneous dialogue that generates neurological empathy. The process restricts the expression of negative thoughts and feelings. The leaders will explain how even brief expressions of anger are neurologically damaging to both the speaker and listener and why this program is now taught in business schools. This workshop is divided among experiential practices, lectures, and group discussion. Participants will be guided through the 20-minute Compassionate Communication training module and several basic mindfulness exercises. Discussions include how to use this process with children and conflicted couples, and Dr. Manning will explain how to bring these strategies into all aspects of business, negotiation, management, and sales.  Downloadable mp3s and documented references will be distributed during the workshop. On Saturday evening, a special presentation of Newberg and Waldman’s brainscan research on spirituality and meditation will be given.

The material in this class will be featured in Newberg and Waldman’s new book, Words Can Change Your Brain.  Additional Recommended reading: Newberg and Waldman, How God Changes Your Brain. 
 
Mark Waldman  is Adjunct Faculty, Executive MBA Program, at Loyola Marymount University, where he teaches stress reduction and communication strategies that have grown out of his brainscan research with Andrew Newberg, MD, at the University of Pennsylvania and Jefferson University. Mark is considered one of the world’s leading experts on spirituality and the brain. His research has been featured in Time, The New York Times, the Washington Post, Oprah Radio and Magazine, NPR radio, and PBS television. He is the author of Words Can Change Your Brain and 12 other books, including the bestselling How God Changes Your Brain.

Dr. Chris Manning, PhD, is Professor of Finance and Real Estate at Loyola Marymount University. He is on the editorial board for the Journal of Real Estate Research and is a former president of the American Real Estate Society.  He has authored dozens of articles relating to management, sales, and negotiation in both the business and educational communities. 



CEUs available:  go to http://www.esalen.org/

with Yuval Ron 
and Mark Robert Waldman

During each day of this unique experiential workshop, Yuval Ron and Mark Waldman will take you deeply into the sacred music, movement, dances, rituals, and spiritual practices of a different ancient religion: Kabbalistic Judaism, Sufism, mystical Christianity, and the mindfulness practices of Buddhism and Hinduism. Experience the sacred poetry and story telling from these mystical paths as we guide you through meditations and chants that have been shown to alter the structure and function of your brain in ways that enhance memory, social awareness, and cognition while simultaneously reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and anger.

The program includes live music performed by Yuval Ron on the Oud, an ancient Middle Eastern lute used to accompany poetry and biblical prophetic recitations Echad and Nigun meditations; movement exercises from the Zen tradition of Butoh; ecstatic dance and music; and an orchestrated video presentation of the effects of meditation and prayer on the brain.  Participants will come away with a deep understanding of the commonality of spiritual practices and the love for life that is reflected in these mystical paths.

YUVAL RON is an Award winning musician, composer, and producer for film, television, dance and theater. He has performed for the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu and Pir Zia Iniyat Khan; taught at Yale, John Hopkins, and UCLA; and has been featured on CNN and National Geographic. For more info see: www.yuvalronmusic.com